Even though cold and flu season is a time for avoiding coughing coworkers and drinking enough Emergenc-C to put down a small animal (I don’t think that actually happens), it seems like we still end up getting sick! ProjectEd realizes this and is using it as a theme for their new “Sniffles and Sneezes” GIF contest.

To enter, choose from one of the following words: ailing, peaked, falter, wretched, piteous, fatal, stupor, haggard. You will be using the definitions found on ProjectEd’s CONTEST PAGE to create an animated GIF that blow peoples minds! Keep in mind that your GIF must be completely original and cannot contain clips or images from 3rd parties (like the awesome one below).

If selected, you will be awarded $200 plus the fact that your submission will be used for educational purposes. Head over to the contest page and get started!

Whether you live in a studio apartment or a 6 bedroom house, one of the most brutal experiences in life is moving. Arpin is looking to dull some of that pain by providing a moving service that lets you sit back and rest easy. As part of their second annual video contest, the company is looking for videos that explain why someone should choose Arpin the next time they move. Check out last year’s winner!

2013 “Moving With Arpin” Contest Winner

The theme of your submission can be funny or serious as long as the message is conveyed. You must also display “Arpin.com” for at least 3 seconds at the end of the video. Arpin will be selecting 1 lucky winner to take home a grand prize of $3,000 with 2nd and 3rd place take home $500 and $250 respectively. And that’s not all! New this year will be the “Arpin’s Choice” prize. The winner will be chosen by a panel at Arpin to receive a $1,000 prize.

How can you say no to that? Head over to the contest page and grab your camera!

Where you come from is not an easy question to answer. Sure, you know where in the world you were born and raised, but think beyond your lifetime. What country are your ancestors from? What habits and beliefs did they bring with them? Well now, with their “Where I’m From” video contest, ProjectED is giving you the chance to consider words that relate to people’s heritage and roots. And while it may not get you any closer to solving the mystery of your family tree, it will get you closer to winning some cash!

First, select one of the following words: origin, custom, foundation, delicacy, hereditary, metropolis, provinces, ancestral. Next, create a short (60 second or less) video that visually defines the word and also includes the part of speech, definition, and an example sentence on the screen at appropriate points during your video. Think of it as a word from a video dictionary. Need some inspo? Check out Dylan Bates’ grand prize winning video for the word, “Lurk.”

“Lurk” by Dylan Bates

2 grand prize winners will each win a $1,000 cash prize! The winners are based off of a 13-17 year old category and an 18 plus category.Be sure to check out the ProjectED VIDEO GALLERY to get an idea of all the different styles of videos that have been created for the site. Good luck!

One of our favorite albums released last year was “Burials” from California based rock band AFI. While the group dropped two music videos (“I Hope You Suffer” and “17 Crimes”) and a single (17 Crimes), they subsequently went on tour and have been going nonstop since. It comes as no surprise that they have decided to turn to their fans to help create the next AFI music video. Not ONE music video by a single creator, but a compilation of footage from multiple entries to build the ultimate video masterpiece. Let’s get started!

CONTEST VIDEO

First, download one (or all) of the contest themes which are essentially a musical slice of “A Deep Slow Panic.” Each part correlates to one of the following emotions: PANIC, ANXIETY, COLLAPSE and LOSS OF SELF. Next, select a theme and create 45 seconds of conceptual footage to go along with it. Your entry can be as creative or artsy as you want and will be featured on the band’s website. The entries that make the final cut will go on to be included in the official music video for “A Deep Slow Panic.”

“17 Crimes” by AFI

One lucky grand prize winner will also win $500 and even receive a one on one Skype chat with the band! Head over to the contest page and get started today!

Everyone makes mistakes, or gets an unpleasant surprise every now and then. We all know what it feels like when best laid plans go haywire, backfire, or have unintended consequences. But that doesn’t make these cringeworthy surprises any easier to swallow in the moment, does it? ProjectEd has created a list of “oops” words that are the backbone for its new GIF contest. What’s a GIF you might ask? It’s a short moving image that loops to create a powerful message. Check out a finalists from ProjectEd’s “Words That Describe Action” GIF contest below.

Select one of the following words: falter, fumble, miscarriage, amiss, dismay, chagrin, taken aback, askance. That’s the hard part! Now create a short image sequence (video or animation) that conveys the definition of that word. Be sure to display the word, part of speech and definition, in your GIF. The top selection will receive $200. Good luck!

Poptent is back with a 2014 video assignment for a big brand who is looking to purchase a ton of videos. Our favorite kind! McCormick has been a household name in culinary herbs and spices for over 100 years and is pretty much in everyone’s kitchen. They are looking for stories about someone you know who creates a unique dish. Maybe it’s not fancy or for a special occasion, but something that brings people together. That’s what “American Homemade” is all about.

McCormick wants your video to feature some key elements. Make it inspirational and genuine. Tell the story of what makes the dish so unique and the heart behind it. If your video is selected, McCormick will be featuring it on a website where cooks (mostly women) from regions all over the U.S. will be inspired by your story of unique dishes and the people that make them. Check out some sample videos below for inspiration on tone.

Old Virginia: The Hill-Side’s “Modified Herringbone” Fabric

On Why We Cook, Jennifer Perillo…

The best part? McCormick is buying big on this one. With a $60,000 prize pool they are going to be purchasing 10 videos (yes 10) with the top video creator earning $12,000 for his or her work. Check out the rest of the purchase amounts through the contest link below. And in case you didn’t hear, Poptent has partnered with RumbleFish to bring you production music. So you can now, very affordably, add genuine production music to your videos. Check out their new page. We can’t wait to see what comes out of this assignment!

What is Upstream Academy? The company has expertise in accounting and provides a service offering firms across the country access to its industry tools through online presentations. Sounds a little dry, right? That’s why the company is turning to talented video creators out there (aka YOU) to build them a slick new commercial for this valuable service.

Create a 30 second – 5 minute advertisement for Upstream Academy that effectively communicates the company and its offerings. The UAN staff will review each video and pick a winner to receive $500. The video will then be used to promote the company around North America.

Be sure to visit Upstream Academy.com to get a full handle on their business and services before heading over to the contest page below.

Participate in the 2014 Brain Awareness Video Contest! Create a short, educational video about a neuroscience concept while working with a member of the Society for Neuroscience near you (you can find one HERE) to produce an educational video about the brain. Whether it’s an animation, song, or skit, share the wonders of science through this contest! Check out some past entries below.

2013 “Brain Awareness” entry by Yayoi Teramoto

2012 “Brain Awareness” entry by Ethan Anderson & Keitha McCall

First place wins $1,000 plus travel, two-nights lodging, and registration for one person to attend Neuroscience 2014 in Washington, DC. Second and third place win $500 and $250 respectively. There will be a “People’s Choice” award for $500 and the “Best High School” submission will win a Tour of a neuroscientist’s laboratory.

The contest is open to people of all ages and from all countries. Videos submitted in a language other than English must have English subtitles.